Laffly Trucks

This page contans what little information I have gathered
on Laffly trucks. Hopefully, in the future, it will be
expanded to one page per truck like that for the S20TL.

Overview

During the 1930's Laffly produced a range of all-wheel-drive
cross-country trucks (and tractors) for military purposes. They were
often designed by Laffly and produced in conjunction with other
companies such as Hotchkiss who even provided the engines. All featured
an
additional set of small wheels in front and similar
set suspended beneath the driver's cab to help the vehicle
cross ditches and obstacles.

S15R

The Laffly S15R was a 6x6 all-terrain
liaison vehicle (VLTT - voiture de liaison tout terrain) used as
a personnel carrier and
reconnaissance
vehicle. It shared a common design and chassis with the S15T
although the S15R had a lighter rear cab and a different
transmission that allowed for higher road speed.

Laffly
S15R

Manufacturer

Laffly

Quantity

550

Armament

Drive

6x6

Weight

2,850kg 2.85 tonnes

Length

4.64 m

Width

1.85 m

Height

2.15 m

Engine

4-cylinder, petrol, 2300 cc, 55 hp

Payload capacity

800kg

Road Speed

72 km/h

Crew

Driver + 4 passengers

S15T

The Laffly S15T was a 6x6 light artillery tractor
used to tow modernized variants of the 75 mm mle 1897 field gun and the
105mm C mle 1935 B
howitzer. It shared a common design and chassis with the S15R
although the S15T had a heavier rear cab and a different
transmission that allowed towing but gave a lower road speed.

Laffly
S15T

Manufacturer

Laffly

Quantity

411 in 1940

Armament

Drive

6x6

Weight

Length

4.7m

Width

1.8m

Height

2.35m

Engine

4 cylinders, 2312 cc, 52 hp at 3200 rpm

Payload capacity

carried: 1,400kg, 1.4 tonnes
towed: 1,800kg, 1.8 tonnes

Road Speed

51 km/h

Crew

Driver + 4 passengers

S15TOE

The Laffly S15TOE (Théâtre
d'Opérations Extérieures - Overseas
Theatre of Operations) was an armoured scout car designed and
built for service in the African colonies. The standard S15 chassis was
used with the addition of an armoured body. It had
a small turret armed with a single Reibel mle 1931 7.5 mm
machine gun. This was a hybrid vehicle in that it operated both as an
armoured car and an armoured personnel carrier; it could transport an
half-section of infantry.

Laffly
S15TOE

Manufacturer

Laffly

Quantity

45 (25 in North Africa and 20 in West Africa)

Armament

7.5mm Reibel Châtellerault MAC31 machine-gun

Drive

6x6

Weight

5 tonnes

Length

4.55m

Width

1.85m

Height

2.45m

Engine

Peugeot engine of 60 hp

Payload capacity

A half-section of infantry: 6 men

Road Speed

60 km/h

Crew

3

Range (Road)

1000 km

Armour (Maximum)

7 mm

V15R

The Laffly V15R was a 4x4 all-terrain
liaison vehicle (VLTT - voiture de liaison tout terrain) used as
a personnel carrier and
reconnaissance
vehicle. It shared a common design and chassis with the V15T.
It was usually armed with a armed
with an FM 24/29 LMG and 1000 rounds.

Laffly
V15R

Manufacturer

Laffly and La Licorne

Quantity

Armament

FM 24/29 LMG

Drive

4x4

Weight

Length

4.21 m

Width

1.85 m

Height

1.85 m

Engine

4 cylinders, 2312 cc, 52 hp at 3200 rpm

Payload capacity

Road Speed

58 km/h

Crew

Driver + 3 passengers

V15T

The Laffly V15T was a 4x4 light artillery tractor
used to tow the 25 mm SA-L mle 37 anti-tank guns. The
Laffly company itself only manufactured the first 100
vehicles, the rest of the production being taken over by La Licorne
company. It shared a common design and chassis with the V15R.

A group of two 25mm guns had four V15T trucks. Two trucks were
used to tow the guns and had a driver and gun crew of four: Corporal
(gun commander), Gunner, Loader and Ammunition bearer. The other two
trucks, also with a driver and 4 passengers, were used to carry the
Staff Sergeant commanding and extra ammunition. One truck was armed
with an FM 24/29 LMG for local defence.

Laffly
V15T

Manufacturer

Laffly and La Licorne

Quantity

200

Armament

FM 24/29 LMG

Drive

4x4

Weight

2,600 kg, 2.6 tonnes

Length

4.21 m

Width

1.85 m

Height

1.85 m

Engine

4 cylinders, 2312 cc, 52 hp at 3200 rpm

Payload capacity

700 kg

Road Speed

58 km/h

Crew

Driver + 4 passengers

W15T

The W15T was designed by Laffly who only produced one prototype. It
was a
derivative of the S15T. Two
different versions were produced by other manufacturers. Hotchkiss
produced the W15T / 47mm AC as a tractor
for the 47mm anti-tank gun and Citroën produced the W15T /
25mm AC as a tractor for the 25mm anti-aircraft gun. Additionally
Hotchkiss produced a version of the W15T intended to replace the S15T
as the tractor for the 75 mm mle 1897 field gun and the 105mm
C mle 1935 B
howitzer; however only four examples had been produced before the war
ended.

W15T / 47mm AC

Hotchkiss produced the W15T as a tractor
for the 47 mm SA modèle 1937 Atelier Puteaux
anti-tank gun. After the first 80 vehicles had be produced, the
remaining production was redirected to the W15TCC
tank hunter.

Laffly
W15T

Manufacturer

Hotchkiss

Quantity

80

Armament

FM 24/29 LMG

Drive

6x6

Weight

3,250 kg, 3.25 tonnes

Length

4.50m

Width

1.90m

Height

1.30m

Engine

4 cylinders, 2300 cc, 56 hp at 3200 rpm

Payload capacity

carried: 1,200kg, 1.2 tonnes
towed: 1,800kg, 1.8 tonnes

Road Speed

51 km/h

Crew

Driver + 4 passengers

W15T / 25mm AC

Citroën produced the W15T as a tractor for the
Hotchkiss 25mm
mle 1939 anti-aircraft
gun. The first of these vehicles evtered service in April 1940. They
were issued to the anti-aircraft platoons of the W15TCC
tank hunter batteries.

Laffly
W15T

Manufacturer

Citroën

Quantity

50-100

Armament

FM 24/29 LMG

Drive

6x6

Weight

3,250 kg, 3.25 tonnes

Length

4.50m

Width

1.90m

Height

1.30m

Engine

4 cylinders, 2300 cc, 56 hp at 3200 rpm

Payload capacity

carried: 1,200kg, 1.2 tonnes
towed: 1,800kg, 1.8 tonnes

Road Speed

51 km/h

Crew

Driver + 4 passengers

W15TCC

The W15TCC
was a tank hunther version of the W15T equipped with a 47mm
anti-tank gun. Details can be found on its own page.

S20TL

The Laffly S20TL
was a
6x6 truck intended primarily to
transport the dragoon regiment belonging
to the DLM. Details can be found on its
own page.

S25T

This artillery tractor was used initially planned to tow the
155mm C mle 1917 Schneider heavy howitzers but went in service in three
battalions towing the new 105mm L mle 1936 Schneider medium field guns.

Additionally a few recovery vehicles were produced, and these
were assigned, one per battery, to the W15TCC
tank hunther batteries.

S35T

This artillery tractor was intended primerily to tow the 155mm L mle
1918 Schneider, 155mm mle GPFT and 155mm mle
GPF heavy field guns. It was also used to tow the 220mm mle
1916 siege mortar.

Some S35T trucks were equipped with winches and could act as
recovery vehicles.

Laffly
S35T

Manufacturer

Laffly

Quantity

225

Armament

None

Drive

6x6

Weight

8,050kg, 8.05 tonnes

Length

5.50m

Width

2.35m

Height

2.85m

Engine

4 cylinders, 6232 cc, 100 hp at 2200 rpm

Payload capacity

carried: 1,200 kg, 1.2 tonnes

Road Speed

40 km/h

Crew

S45T

From 1935 the typical recovery vehicle for heavy tanks was the
SOMUA MCL5. However this vehicle, with only a 90hp engine,
reached its limits with the advent of the Char B1 heavy
tank. The Laffly S45T was developed to replace the MCL5.
These recovery vehicles together with the 30 tonne trailer
(three of each) equipped the "compagnie d'échelon" och the
Char B1 bis heavy tank battalions.

Because so few were delivered, the S35T or the older MCL5 was
often found doing this duty instead.